Grand plans to redevelop the former Grosvenor Hotel and the George and Railway Hotel could take their first major leap forward next week.

Council officers have recommended that the hybrid and outline planning permission for changes to the neglected Temple Circus site are approved when they go before committee on Wednesday.

The multi-million pound plans would see the Grosvenor Hotel demolished and the Grade II listed George and Railway Hotel revamped to create more than 30,000sq/m or office space, as well as cafes and shops.

Outline planning permission has been submitted for The Grosvenor which locally listed, which means it is deemed a building that is important to the area but is not granted national protection.

Redevelopment of the Temple Circus site, which lies close to Bristol Temple Meads Station, would boost the local economy and give a facelift to one of Bristol’s major gateways.

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Artist's impression of Engine Shed II, which will be redeveloped from the George and Railway Hotel

When the application went before committee in November, council officers had recommended it was refused.

Planning officers said: “The proposals have generated significant levels of objection. With respect to public comments on the application, the primary concerns relate to the proposed demolition of the locally listed Grosvenor Hotel.

"However, there is also a level of concern regarding the works to the listed building, and this includes an objection from Historic England.”

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A brochure made for the development said it would be completed by Q3, 2017

These issues led councillors to refer the application all the way to the Secretary of State, saying they felt the application was worth pushing forward as “the benefits of the schemes outweigh the harm”.

But the Secretary of State decided to leave the decision with the Bristol City Council.

Although many welcome redevelopment of the site, the application has not found favour with all.

When the application went before council in November, 78 people wrote in to object.

Pressure group Save the Bristol Grosvenor Hotel campaign was set up in response to the plan, urging developers to rethink the demolition of the building.